31 MARCH 2015

Canelo and Lopez Both Promise Victories

Exciting super welterweights don’t say much during final presser

By:Mike Sloan in Las Vegas: This Saturday in Las Vegas is going to be a fight fan’s dream (or worst nightmare). As is well known by now, there are two mega cards in the same city, at the same time, but at different locations. Thursday’s press conference for the huge Saul “Canelo” Alvarez versus Josesito Lopez card unfolded without a hitch and without any final pre-fight drama.

Both Alvarez and Lopez are confident of victory but they’ve gone about their business in the build-up to their fight with oodles of class and mutual respect. Alvarez is a massive favorite to topple the virtually unknown Lopez, though the Guadalajara, Mexico fighter promises that he’s not looking past his opponent.

Alvarez has only been fighting professionally for seven years after turning pro at the young age of 15 and he’s on the cusp of living out his dream. He’s a mega star in Mexico and wants to remain as such. He covets a shot at the world’s greatest boxer, Floyd Mayweather, and knows that he can’t jeopardize that potential showdown by slipping up against the tough Lopez.

Conversely, Lopez still has much to prove to the world even though he’s fresh off the biggest win of his career. Lopez last fought – and took out – popular Victor Ortiz and he hopes that he can continue to shock the world as a huge underdog come Saturday night.

The Riverside, California fighter knows it won’t be easy.

“There’s nothing I can say that I haven’t said already for my fight on Saturday,” Lopez (30-4, 18 KOs) said Thursday afternoon inside the MGM Grand’s Hollywood Theater. “This is the biggest, hardest of my life. I have to bring a perfect gameplan to win this fight because of how great my opponent is. I know it’s up to me to win and I know how important it is to win. It’s a fight and an opportunity that I can’t let slip away. This is going to be a great fight and because I know how tough it’s going to be, I’ve trained harder than I ever have. On Saturday night, may the best man win.”

Alvarez knows what Lopez is going through because he’s been there before. Still, he wants to be an all-time great and become the same sort of mega attraction that some of his peers and heroes were before he got to this point.

“This is a special moment for me,” Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KOs) stated. “Growing up, I remember seeing great fighters fighting here on this stage on this weekend, fighters like Floyd Mayweather and Oscar de la Hoya and many others. I want to take advantage of this time so I can stay here at this level. This is what drives me. This is a huge fight for me and I’ve trained very hard.”

The Showtime-televised card is expected to completely sell out the Grand Garden Arena and all parties involve fully anticipate huge numbers on both Showtime, its sister station Showtime Extreme (which will air the prelims) and Telefutura (which will air the three main undercard bouts without interruption).

De la Hoya, the head of Golden Boy Promotions, also stated that there will be a $100,000 bonus given to the man who scores the knockout of the night. The future Hall of Famer revealed that fans will be able to do a live vote immediately following the telecast for five minutes. The winner of the large bonus will be revealed during the post-fight rundown on Showtime.